Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are tough. They shake up everything—from company culture and team morale to leadership structures and daily operations. But what if we told you that Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has more in common with a corporate leader navigating M&A than you might think?
Simone’s story isn’t just about gymnastics. It’s about resilience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to thrive under pressure. And when you think about it, that’s exactly what M&A demands. Let’s dive into how Simone Biles’ mindset and leadership style can teach us powerful lessons about managing cultural shifts, leading teams through uncertainty, and performing under the highest stakes.
Understanding the High-Stakes Game of M&A
Mergers and acquisitions can feel like a full-on Olympic event. You’re juggling finance, operations, strategy, people—and all under a microscope. Companies often focus on numbers, but forget the emotional side of things.
Why Culture Matters More Than You Think
Culture clashes are the #1 reason M&As fail. You can buy a company, but you can’t buy loyalty or morale. Simone Biles understands culture better than most executives.
The Team Behind the Medal
Simone’s success wasn’t a solo act. Her coaches, teammates, and support system played huge roles. The same goes for M&A—if your people aren’t aligned, nothing sticks.
Cultural Alignment Over Cultural Dominance
Instead of forcing one culture to dominate another, M&A leaders should aim for alignment. Think of it like blending two rhythms into a new, synchronized routine.
Leadership Lessons from a World Champion
Simone Biles leads with grace, grit, and humility—key traits for leaders managing transitions.
The Power of Vulnerable Leadership
Remember when Simone withdrew from Olympic events to protect her mental health? That wasn’t weakness. That was leadership. Being open builds trust, especially during uncertain times.
Trust Is the Core of Team Stability
In M&A, people need to trust leadership decisions. That starts with honesty and transparency—two things Simone always models.
Keeping Composure Under Pressure
When the stakes are high, leaders need to stay grounded. Just like Simone focuses before a vault, M&A leaders must keep calm while chaos swirls around them.
For most people, feeling nervous is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. For advanced gymnasts, however, getting ‘the twisties’ could jeopardize their physical safety. Not knowing exactly where they are in space as they execute difficult skills, especially on floor or vault routines, can quickly lead to potentially life-threatening or career-ending injuries for the gymnast.
Leading up to the 2020 Olympics (held in Tokyo in the summer of 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic), all-star gymnast Simone Biles was experiencing the twisties. In a move that shocked the world, she pulled out of the competition to prioritize her mental health and work toward overcoming the serious mental block. To some, this was a sign of weakness. But to me, it was an exhibition of the toughness and leadership necessary to be successful. Real leadership, whether in sports or business, means staying true to your values and identity, especially in intensely stressful moments like performing on a global stage or executing high-stakes M&A deals.
Simone set the tone for leading through acquisitions
Because of America’s recent love of ‘hustle culture,’ when Biles backed out of the competition, many decried this move as cowardly and too risk-averse. I disagree. She thoughtfully evaluated the situation and decided it was not a risk worth taking. Because of this decision, she was able to come back in 2024 — a move that took both boldness and innovation. She’s now the most decorated gymnast of all time, and when asked about 2028, she said, “Never say never.”
The courage it took for Biles to come back is remarkable, but even more so is the courage it took to step out of the spotlight and take care of and stay true to herself. This time away allowed Biles to achieve the delicate balance between innovation and calculated risk that it takes to win like she did in 2024. Real leadership, whether in sports or business, means staying true to your values and identity, especially in intensely stressful moments like performing on a global stage or executing high-stakes M&A deals”. That same equilibrium is necessary to win in the professional sphere, especially when going through M&A processes.
One of the biggest risks during M&A is a culture mismatch. Successful M&A strategies recognize and honor what makes each organization strong, while validating cultural alignment upfront. Those that don’t become part of the annual data we see around failed M&A. As an executive, my goal during the transaction process and especially once the deal closes, is to co-create culture and bring together the best of both sides without losing their identity and what made them an ideal fit from the start.
